How do I get to Heaven?

Chapter 11- Pink

I wandered into the dining hall alone and loaded my tray with everything I could get my hands on. Aiden and I had spent the entire afternoon in my suit... working up an appetite. I was famished, and rather dehydrated.

I turned and scanned the room, looking for an empty table, when I spotted a familiar brown coat. Travis was sitting at a table with three other guys. One of which brought a smile to my lips instantly, so I made a bee line for the group.

"Got any room for me, boys?" I asked. Everyone looked up at me with confusion in their eyes; except Travis. He grinned and jumped up, offering me his seat. He pushed his tray one seat over, and I settled in next to the boy that bad drawn me to them.

Turning his way, I said "I like your hair." He groaned and let his head fall to the table. The others laughed and Travis said "Y'all, this is Rosalie. This is Michael, Dennis, and Toby." He pointed at each young guy starting on his right, and finishing with the guy to my left.

His eyes were almond shaped, and a striking shade of amber. They almost looked like honey shimmering in the torch light. He looked to be Travis' height, and had floppy hair that hung just above his eyes.

His hair was also hot pink. It almost matched the blush he had pulsing under his cheeks.

"Toby dyed his hair on a dare, then ended up here before he could fix it back." Travis said, taking a bite of his mac and cheese. The others snickered again, and Toby rolled his eyes.

"I haven't been up to the living world yet, so I havent been able to get any bleach to fix it. I've been stuck with this non-fading hair for almost a month!" He whined. I smiled as I reached for my water bottle. Twisting the cap off, I looked at him and said "Well I really like it. I had blue hair for a while but had to dye it back because of work."

"Could have claimed discrimination." Dennis said. He was a shorter guy, with large glasses and eyes so brown they were almost black. His hair was short, and spiked with gel. Michael shoved him and said "She wasn't born blue headed. She did it to herself. Can't call discrimination on that!"

As the others argued over what was considered discrimination, I looked to Travis and asked "How was the rest of your afternoon?"

He finished another huge bite of his food before saying "Not too bad. Hit the gym, had a hot shower, then took a long ass nap. Was a pretty productive day!"

"A nap is considered productive?"

"Hey it was a well deserved nap! Today was shoulders at the gym."

I laughed. I took a long pull from my water just as he asked "So, hows the sex with our teacher?"

The water caught in my throat, causing me to lurch forward. I fought the pain and swallowed my water before coughing up my lungs. The others eyed me as I damn near drowned where I sat. Travis was too busy howling with laughter to do anything but smack my back a few times.

I shot him a glare while wiped my mouth with the back of my sleeve. The dark grey sweater was too big on me, but that was to be expected, since it was Aidens. I had snatched it off the dresser as he tied his shoes. We had made a pit stop by his room so he could grab a change of clothes before going back to my place to shower... and then shower again later.

Aiden had a meeting with the other trainers, so I was on my own for the evening. He said he would come find me before bed, thankfully. I wasn't sure I was ready to sleep in that place alone yet. I was still only holding myself together by a thread.

"Travis, who on earth said I was sleeping with Aiden?" I murmured, so the others wouldn't hear. Travis rolled my eyes and said "I'm not an idiot. I could see it in the way he looked at you this afternoon. Plus... the hickey on your neck kinda face you away."

"What?" I gasped, smacking my hand over the area where my neck met my shoulder. Aiden spent a lot of time there this afternoon. He enjoyed the sounds I made when he bit me there.

Travis let out another whoop of laughter before smacking my leg gently and saying "I'm just messin' with ya. You don't have a hicky, but now I know for sure you are sleeping with him. You've been here for likw... twelve seconds and already have a boyfriend?"

I glared at him again as I took a few bites of my cake. I no longer wanted my chicken, I just wanted comfort desserts.

"Dont tell anyone, Travis. Please? He technically shouldn't be seeing me, since I'm still a trainee and all. I just dont want him to get in trouble and..." I trailed off, noticing that horrible tightening of my throat. I tried to swallow the growing lump and choaked out "He is the only thing keeping me sane. I dont have any friends, really. I met a gi this afternoon but I don't know if we will continue to hang out. Aiden is all I have to distract me."

Travis nodded. He reached over and put his hand on my shoulder and said "Well, you have me now. Me and the rest of my boys here. We are a messed up bunch, but we are pretty fun." He grinned and we turned our attention back to the others, who now had started talking about what color Toby should dye his hair next.

Toby looked angry as he snapped "No! I'm going back to my basic blonde. I'm sick of all the weird looks I get."

"But green would be totally cool!" Michael whines. I sat in silence and finish my cake as I watch the boys banter. Travis suggests orange, claiming that he always felt Hell would have a bit more of a Halloween vibe to it.

I smiled and laughed with them until they all began to clear their trays. Travis invited me to go back to his room with them to play some video games, but I was pretty tired so I said I'd find him tomorrow for breakfast.

Each guy offered me a hug, and I felt myself very comforted in Toby's embrace. He reminded me a lot of Jordan, which caused a pang of sadness to rip through my chest.

They all turned right out of the hall, but I continued straight. I tried to remember how Aiden had gotten me home last night. It took me half an hour to find my room, and as I fumbled with my keys to unlock the door, I swore that tomorrow I was stealing bread from the dining hall and setting a bread crumb trail back to my front door.